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ABSTRACT

An apparatus for the collection of airborne microorganisms and gaseous effluvia is disclosed. The apparatus includes an air intake mechanism capable of drawing an air sample and an air intake chamber operatively coupled to the air intake mechanism so that the air sample passes therethrough. A reservoir containing a liquid is provided disposed relative to the air intake chamber such that the air sample passes through the reservoir and is percolated through the liquid so that airborne microorganisms or gaseous effluvia within the air sample becomes suspended in the liquid. An access port or clean wall portion or window walls of the air intake chamber or liquid reservoir for allowing the exterior or interior emission of an ultraviolet or radio or other frequency wavelength into the suspension liquid containing the microorganisms or gaseous effluvias so that there is emitted by them a so-called “ramen” response, scattered single or multiple wavelengths from the microorganisms or gaseous effluvia which may be multiplexed and transmitted to, captured or recognized by, and recorded electronically in spectrometers and computer instruments exterior to the intake chamber for testing. An exhaust chamber is also connected to the reservoir such that the air sample, upon passing through the liquid, passes through the liquid passes through the exhaust chamber and a sampling port is provided adjacent to the reservoir such that a sample of the liquid can be extracted therefrom.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/742,293, filed on Dec. 19, 2003, and entitled PORTABLEDISPOSABLE AIRBORNE PATHOGEN COLLECTION DEVICE AND SYSTEM, whichapplication is now pending. The present patent application also claimspriority from and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.60/774,657, filed Feb. 21, 2006, and entitled MICRO-DETECT, which priorapplication is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The recent publication in Newsweek Magazine (Feb. 15, 2007) of a “fourminute” thumbnail size DNA detection platform chip (with “potential torevolutionize medical diagnostics”) nevertheless illustrates thetime-loss detection difference between it and the MDT Raman spectroscopywhen it employs DWDM detection. The requisite elapsed time between thetwo methodologies greatly favors the MDT economy of timeliness.

The DNA chip developed by the Thermal Gradient Co. device (Pittsford,N.Y.) would require a compendium or series of individual time-consumingsteps to obtain a suitable tested sample. They would include:

1. Sample separation from the source surface or liquid or gaseouscapture substance

2. Sample preparation or condensation

3. Transport elapsed time to the test lab site

4. Insertion into the DNA chip by trained personnel

5. The DNA amplification time of an estimated several minutes

6. The preparation of the written test results

7. And the necessary diagnostic reading and conclusions of trainedpersonnel.

The above essential and required steps of the DNA chip suffer a nearfatal time lag when compared with the near immediate and automaticcomputerized spectra result of Raman spectroscopy, when applied to MDTcaptured organisms and which requires little or no trainedinterpretation, since the resulting automatic matching computerizedspectra is verified automatically by a U.S. DHS maintained computerlibrary or bank of each identified individualized spectra. Moreover, itappears that the DNA chip might require multiple chips for the detectionof multiple pathogens in a single sample while the MDT capturing liquidis able to contain multiple pathogens each of which would emit or giveoff its own Raman scatter wavelengths and each of which can betransferred by DWDM simultaneously under its own wavelength which may beindependently detected by its own spectra in a single Raman spectroscopyDWDM computerized system.

Additionally, the MDT is highly portable and lightweight (3-5 lbs.) foroutdoor in-situ detection with immediate transferability to distantcentrally or on-site located spectrometers and computers, and bywireless transfer or routing devices provided by Cisco Systems (SanJose, Calif.).

The current specter of a worldwide pandemic of Avian flu, and othernaturally occurring airborne pathogens and gaseous affluvia now seemingto hover over mankind and has resulted in the near feverish demand forrapid, economical, and portable on-site pathogen detection equipment.This equipment must not only provide accurate detection in seconds, but,also be small and light enough to be quickly replaceable on-site byback-pack carried copies and cheap enough to be disposable after asingle contaminated on-site assay as required by US federal healthregulations. And lastly, the replacement must be readily availableon-site for the secondary “confirmation” assays required before theissuance of public alarms and ready immediately for tracking of theusual drifting pathogenic cloud or plume, life threatening to the localpopulace.

Compounding this international lethal dilemma is the sudden appearanceon the world scene of the present capability of bioterrorists to causethe explosion of a relatively small and/or portable amount of deadlygaseous affluvia or pathogens in a cloud of infectious microorganisms orgases upon a defenseless populace; both of which have excitednear-universal fears of Armageddon. The United States Government throughits Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has responded to this threatby sponsoring financial incentives for the development of a low costBio-Aerosol Detector System (LBADS-BAA 05-08.)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Pursuant to 35 USCA 101 it is claimed that the claims set forth in thisapplication for patent is and are new and useful improvements on thepatent claims in its parent application specified above; and that alland each of such claims for reference purposes are incorporated herein,and made a part hereof, as fully as if each such claim had been setforth verbatim herein. These improvements lie principally in thecritically important decrease of elapsed time of detection, theeconomies of price by virtue of fewer components such as crystals, andreagents and the lack of need for provisioning and inventorying of thesame.

The portability and ease and utility of time and materials in trackingof the resulting airborne plume components; many if not all of theseimprovements made possible or improved by the discovery and increasedimplementation of Raman spectroscopy applied directly inside the MDTs,without the need to withdraw liquid samples, signal and surfaceenhancement and dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM), developedby major research by such U.S. companies as Cisco Systems and LucentTechnologies in recent years.

The best mode contemplated by the inventors for the use of the inventionis that of a double assay in two separate Micro-Detect (MDT) vesselswhich it is believed would have the shortest elapsed identificationtime, and which not only confirms a positive separate or first assay ofa given bio-terror pathogen attack or naturally occurring infestationdispersion but also the second companion device could disclose and trackthe direction and path of the pathogenic cloud or plume caused by abio-terrorist WMD release. First usage and secondary confirmation assaysshould be conducted in a non-contaminated vessel or apparatus, namely,separate or multiple MDT's so as to lessen or avoid the possibility ofthe national pandemonium which might well attend the unconfirmed publicdissemination of possibly false positive assay results which in its wakemight have the effect to interrupt or shut down national commercial,transportation and even partial governmental activities of the nationitself.

Therefore, using this method as a primary and confirmatory secondary setof assays (even run contemporaneously) its double rapid on-site positiveassay of the same pathogen increases to a very large degree the verityand the identifying method of the first positive assay of U.S. DHS-CDC(or naturally occurring pathogens) listings of highly infectious levelof airborne pathogens or noxious effluvia. Therefore, in a highlyinfectious pathogen release into the atmosphere the confirmatory butmore time consuming diagnostic system of choice would be the PCR methodof identification of the DNA of the pathogen at an establishedlaboratory, insomuch as DNA detection is considered by many authoritiesto be the most accurate. But it should be followed, immediately afterreporting results to emergency control authorities, by successiveportable on-site and downstream MDT plume samplings. Therefore, thebrevity of the elapsed time to the first confirmation assay is of theessence of such operations, in order to protect the lives of firstresponders and the civilian populace, alike. Subsequent assays would bedirected or orchestrated by the emergency control authority.

If, however, the biological pathogen attack to be assayed is of a suddenand surprise nature, and the airborne pathogens are even suspected to beof lethal nature, it is imperative to use the most rapid assay appraisalor identification method available which is believed to be theMicro-Detect (MDT) via Raman spectroscopy DWDM system methodology notonly for initial detection and confirmation in whole or in part, butalso to track the inevitable poisonous plume or infectious cloud movingaway from the point of first explosion infestation or dissemination.However, the inventors would also conduct immediate companion MDTmultiple tests in which a lesser number of nano-crystals coated withdifferent reagents or radio labeled or Raman probes correspondingharmonically to one or more of the 15 or 20 most dangerous pathogens andnoxious effluvia as rated by the U.S. DHS-CDC would be employed sincethe identity of the pathogen would be presumptively known by virtue ofthe first assay. They would be placed in several portable MDT vesselsand in which, after, double or more nano crystal linkages, the differentmultiple colorations illuminated in the crystal can be again excited byultra violet or laser gun or other excitation instrument attached to, orheld against the wall of the MDT vessel. Its immediate visible (and/orauditory report through use of automatic ultra sound detectionequipment) or spectrometer, positive results can be immediately againcommunicated to the on-site first responders and exposed civilians aswell as to the Emergency Control Center. The rationale for thisprocedure is that saving civilian and first responders and hospitalhealthcare workers from lethal contamination is, and should be, thefirst imperative demand rather than to identify pathogens in atime-consuming remote off-site test procedure. The later laboratoryprocedures, of course, can immediately follow the visual on-siteidentification, employing liquid sample splits drawn from the same MDTvessel ports and rushed to a designated laboratory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood with reference to the followingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a portable disposable airbornepathogen collection device, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a prospective view of the airborne pathogencollection device;

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the airborne pathogen collectiondevice, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An apparatus for the simultaneous collection of airborne microorganismsand gaseous substances for detection by Raman Spectroscopy, excitationof dyes or of nano crystals, in one embodiment approximately 18″ to 24″high and 3″ to 4″ in width, and weighing approximately 3-4 lbs. includesan air intake mechanism 102, which is capable of drawing in an airsample. In one embodiment, the air intake mechanism is a rotatable fan,which may be battery operated or powered by any other means such thatthe fan 102 rotates and draws the air sample therein at a rate of 15 to25 CFM. The apparatus 100 further includes an air intake chamber 104disposed between the air intake mechanism 102 and a reservoir 106 thatcontains a liquid means 108.

In one embodiment, the apparatus 100 is made of a composite formed hardtranslucent plastic material forming the cavities that define the airintake chamber 104 and the reservoir 106 containing the liquid means108. Moreover, the liquid means 108 may be any available liquid capableof having an air sample percolated there through and supporting thesuspension of one or more previously airborne pathogens or gaseoussubstances, such as distilled water, a liquid disinfectant, or any othersuitable liquid capable of such suspension, and microspheres containingreagent coatings and enclosing various dyes, or similarly, nano crystalsso coated.

The apparatus 100 further includes an exhaust chamber 110 disposed abovethe reservoir 106 accessible through the liquid means 108 within thereservoir 106. Therefore, an air sample drawn in through the air intake102 directed down through the air intake chamber 104, and percolatedthrough the liquid means 108 may be exhausted through an exhaust 112 viathe exhaust chamber 110. Furthermore, the exhaust chamber 110 and theexhaust 112 may be defined chambers based on the molded casing of theapparatus 100. Furthermore, the exhaust 112, may contain a perforatedcover or filter as illustrated and discussed further below with respectto FIG. 3.

In one embodiment, the apparatus 100 contains outer frame indentation inwhich to fit a laser or ultra-violet or other ultra sound device toproject its beams into contact with the aforesaid microorganisms,microspheres, or nanocrystals and further includes a sampling port 114adjacent to the reservoir 106 such that a sample of microspheres andliquid means 108 may be extracted there through using extraction meanssuch as a syringe. In one embodiment, the sampling port 114 is a hardplastic extension having a watertight seal with an opening for insertinga sample extraction device, such as a syringe, therethrough for theextraction of the beads or nanocrystals and/or liquid means 108. In oneembodiment, the sampling port 114 is a resealable nipple allowing forthe removal. of the liquid extraction device and the resealing of theliquid-tightness of the reservoir.

The apparatus 100 further includes liquid fill port 116 and a handle118. The handle 118 is disposed, in one embodiment, on a posteriorposition for the ease of portability of the device and the liquid fillport 116 allows for the insertion of the liquid means 108 into thereservoir 106.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the airborne collection device100 better illustrating the perspective alignment of the variouselements, including the reservoir 106, the liquid fill port 116, thesampling port 114, the air intake chamber 104 and the exhaust chamber110. Further included in the apparatus 100, not visible in FIG. 2, are aplurality of base footing members disposed on the underside of theapparatus 100 for stabilizing the collection device 100 in an uprightposition. As better illustrated in FIG. 2, the sampling port 114 and thefill port 116 outwardly extend from the apparatus 100 for stabilizingthe collection device 100 in an upright position. As better illustratedin FIG. 2, the sampling port 114 and the fill port 116 outwardly extendfrom the apparatus 100, more specifically extending outward from thereservoir 106, wherein the reservoir 106 extends the full length of theapparatus 100 divided by a portion of the exhaust chamber 110. FIG. 2also illustrates, in one embodiment, the orientation of the handle 118relative to the intake mechanism 102 and the exhaust 112.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the apparatus 100 with the exhaust112 at the exterior of the exhaust chamber 110. In one embodiment, theexhaust 112 includes a perforated cover and/or filter 130 for allowingthe air sample to pass out of the apparatus 100. Further illustrated isthe orientation of the handle 118, the outward extensions of the sampleport 114 and the filling element 116. Furthermore, the base footingmembers 132 provide for lateral stability when the device 100 is restedon a flat surface.

In the above embodiment with the device 100, a plurality of the device100 may be utilized wherein the devices are extremely portable and maybe readily disposed of upon usage. Although, in the second embodiment ofthe present invention, a single base unit may be provided having aplurality of the disposable collection reservoirs. Upon the testing ofthe first air sample and the extraction through the sampling port, afirst disposable collection reservoir may be removed from the base and asecond disposable collection reservoir, a duplicate of the disposablecollection reservoir, may be positioned on the base.

In furtherance with the collection of a sample of the microspheres andliquid means, the sample may be tested using a laboratory. In oneembodiment, based on the mobility of the collection device 100, a mobilelaboratory may be utilized for immediate testing at an on-site location.For example, an Agilent Mobile Laboratory may be utilized to performanalytical measurement system within a mobile laboratory to detect andconfirm the presence of chemical and biological agents. The mobilelaboratory and the ADDS is available for purchase from General ElectricCorporation and the said microspheres and laser devices, and otherdetecting devices, are also readily available in the United States.

Whether the testing is performed in a mobile laboratory or other testingdevice, using any available testing techniques, the liquid means sampleis tested for the presence of airborne pathogens includingmicroorganisms. For example, mass spectrometry may be utilized toperform spectromatic testing. In another embodiment, chromatography maybe utilized to test the liquid sample. Regardless thereof, on theextraction of a liquid means sample, a liquid means sample may be testedusing any commonly available or known testing system such as a “PCR”genetic detector, which allows for the verification or authentication ofairborne pathogens or microorganism suspended within the liquid means.

It should be understood that there exists implementation of othervariations and modifications of the invention and its various aspects,as may be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, andthat the invention is not limited by the specific embodiments describedherein. For example, the apparatus 100 may be composed of any readilyavailable material allowing for the formation of the defined air passagechambers and liquid means holding reservoir, wherein the material allowsfor easy portability and disposability. It is therefore contemplated andcovered by the present invention, any and all such modifications.

Further, for example, the crucial necessity of immediate verification ofthe precise gaseous or so-called genetic “fingerprint”, almostimmediately following the first positive particulate or gaseous assay ishere presented with a unique solution by the multiplicity of lightweightdevices being delivered to a test site in a multiple numbers in the sametransportation “pack” or carrying case. The momentary change in numbersand morphology of a pathogen or the dissipation of a gas within momentsof a first sample can be essential to the determination of the properdefense or medical prescription to combat the threat to life posed in agiven terrorist attack. The infinitesimally small concentrationsub-micron size of a given pathogen and the rapid dissipation of thestrength of a gaseous substance demand immediate confirmation retesting.The means must be immediately at hand together with exact duplicateliquids and microspheres in place and with battery or back-up powersupply. Indeed, if the period of gestation of a known or unknownmicroorganism pathogen upon the human or animal species is very brief,the immediacy of verification and diagnosis may spell life or death tothe victim of inhalation or skin absorption. The reproduction,therefore, of the immediate and exact measurement of the WMD agentpresents a unique necessity for the multiple pack assembly of diagnosticequipment so exactly specialized to repeat and quickly confirm or denythe threat to life that it can be best described as essential.

1. An apparatus for the collection of at least one of an airbornemicroorganisms and gaseous effluvia, the apparatus comprising: an airintake mechanism capable of drawing an air sample; an air intake chamberoperatively coupled to the air intake mechanism such that the air sampleis passed therethrough; a reservoir containing a liquid means, thereservoir disposed relative to the air intake chamber such that the airsample passes through the reservoir and is percolated through the liquidmeans such that airborne microorganisms or gaseous effluvia within theair sample becomes suspended in the liquid means, an access port orclean wall portion or window walls of the air intake chamber or liquidreservoir for allowing the exterior or interior emission of anultraviolet or other radio or other frequency wavelength into suchsuspension liquid containing such microorganisms or gaseous effluvia sothat there is or are emitted by them a so-called “Raman” response“scatter” single or multiple wavelengths, from such microorganisms orgaseous effluvia, which Raman responses may be multiplexed andtransmitted to and captured or recognized by and recorded electronicallyin spectrometers and computer instruments exterior to the intake chamberfor testing; an exhaust chamber operatively coupled to the reservoirsuch that the air sample, upon passing through the liquid means, passesthrough the exhaust chamber; and a sampling port adjacent to thereservoir such that a sample of the liquid means may be extractedtherefrom.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the air intake mechanismis a motor-powered fan.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:a carrying handle such that the apparatus is mobile.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1 further comprising: a liquid fill port adjacent to the reservoirsuch that the reservoir may be provided with the microorganism orgaseous substance suspension liquid through the liquid fill port.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of stabilizing feetdisposed on the bottom side of the apparatus.
 6. The apparatus of claim1 wherein the air intake chamber, the reservoir and the exhaust chamberare defined by a plastic casing, wherein the plastic casing isdisposable.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the liquid means is atleast one of the following: distilled water and liquid disinfectant:wherein the plastic casing is positioned together in a carrying casewith at least two duplicate tubes therewith.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1which is multiple packaged as portable for use in tracking the aerialmovement of an airborne plume of pathogens or gaseous effluvia emittedby an airborne pathogen or gaseous effluvia explosion or hostile act.